“Where is he?” India fretted while pacing back and forth until Hugh stood in front of her, placing his hands on her arms.
“I don’t know what’s keeping him, but I do know that he’ll do everything he can to get to you.” Hugh smiled. “Don’t worry about him.”
Stepping out of Hugh’s way, she leaned against the patio door and looked out at the forestry all around the cabin. They were somewhere within Manchester State Forest. She’d lost track of all the twist and turns that Hugh had taken to get them to the cabin. It took them around three hours to arrive after going off route a couple of times, and they’d been at the cabin six hours and twenty-two minutes.
She was exhausted but couldn’t settle until she knew that Mikhail was okay. The man had gotten under her skin but she’d trusted him from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him. She didn’t know which way to turn or who to turn to without him.
“Okay,” Hugh suddenly shouted, startling her that she jumped away from the window. “I’m sorry.” He tugged her over to the sofa and forced her to sit. “I’m worried too, okay?” He sighed. “Your refusal to sit is driving me crazy. Please just try and rest so that you’re not falling over by the time he arrives.”
“He should be here by now.” She glanced out through the window at the narrow road that led to the cabin. “I think we should head back.”
Hugh shook his head frantically. “No.” He grabbed her arms. “That is such a bad idea. He’s trusting me to keep you safe.”
“But what if they ran into trouble?” She worried at her bottom lip. “I feel so helpless.”
Hugh smiled. “I feel the same.” He sighed. “Think about how much help we’d be against Vasiliev.”
“You’re right. I guess.”
“While he only has himself to think about, he’s safer, okay?” He nodded. “Help me make something for us to eat because I’m starving.” He led her into the kitchen and shoved a very sharp knife into her hand and gave her a pointed look. “Chop.”
Glancing down, he had peppers, onions, and mushrooms, washed and spread out on the large chopping board.
“Mind your fingers,” Hugh added.
“I’m good.” Smiling, she started chopping while Hugh heated the oil.
“I thought we’d have an omelet as that’s about the only thing I can cook.” He turned his attention to the pan before he glanced back over his shoulder. “I make and excellent frozen pizza though.”
She laughed, the knife freezing in mid air at the soft sound of a car engine. “Hugh?”
He stilled. “I hear it.” Seconds later he slipped his hand into the back of his jeans and pulled out an evil looking gun. “Keep the knife,” he said, his gaze boring into hers.
“I’m not sure I’m capable of using it.”
“You will if you need to.” Hugh grabbed hold of her wrist in a tight grip and pulled her with him toward the back of the house. Opening the bathroom door he shoved her inside. “You should be safe in here.”
“No way.” She slipped beneath his arm. “I’m not being locked in there.” She ran back toward the kitchen. “We need to hurry.”
Hugh cursed under his breath as he followed.
Her heart raced as she wondered if they’d been found while she ducked behind the kitchen counter. It was the safest place she could think of that didn’t involve hiding in the bathroom.
“I wished you’d listened to me.” Hugh slid in beside her before he ventured a look over the top of the counter. Cursing, Hugh glanced at her with a huge smile on his face.
“What?”
“Lover boy returns.”
He stood and offered his hand. She was wary of him, but she let him pull her to her feet . . . and that was when she saw Mikhail. He was looking straight at her, his attention only on her.
Tears threatened as she gasped and flew into his arms. He held her tightly against him and breathed deeply. Their hearts beat franticly together.
“You’re my breath of fresh air, India.” He pulled away so that he could meet her gaze and cupping her face, he asked “Are you all right? I sent you with Hugh so quickly.”
“I’m happy now that you’re here. I’ve worried.”
“She’s paced a hole in the floor,” Hugh added. “What about Dimitri?”
Mikhail kept an arm around her and faced his friend. “Dimitri has been beaten. My father had discovered that he was a distraction.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I left him with a vet that can be trusted. I figured they might check hospitals and doctors, so a vet is the next best thing and hopefully someone that won’t be looked at too closely. Dimitri has weapons just in case.” Mikhail sagged in exhaustion.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder and felt him settle.
“It’s been a long, dangerous day and I think we all need to rest and then plan our next move because I don’t think my father will just let us run off together.” He kissed her forehead.
“You already know what we’re going to do, right?” Hugh asked.
Hugh stepped away and Mikhail tugged her back into his arms. “I’m not letting you go anywhere.” He smiled before looking at Hugh. “Yes, I know exactly what I’m going to do next, which we’ll talk about later.”
Hugh gave a wry smile. “I’ll sleep on the other side of the cabin.” He shook his head and laughed. “Next time, I get the girl,” he shouted over his shoulder as he disappeared into a room down the hall.
Mikhail hadn’t taken his eyes from her and the look he gave her said more than any words ever could. Her fingers twitched and she gave in to the need to slide them into his hair. His eyes heated with desire as she reached up on her tiptoes and softly met his lips with hers.
He pressed gently against her and when she felt his tongue pushing for access, she moaned and wrapped herself around him. He moaned into her mouth as his steely hard erection pressed tightly between her legs, heightening her own arousal.
Gasping for breath, he broke from their kiss and started moving along her neck to her earlobe, his breath hot against her. Her body tightened wanting more. Needing more.
“I’ve dreamt of touching you more,” Mikhail whispered, trailing kisses back to her mouth. “Of loving you.” He sealed his mouth over hers. “You’re meant to be with me, India. No one else. Me.”
“Yes,” she agreed. Her one uttered word should tell him everything and when he met her gaze, his breath deep and heavy, his eyes showed her his possession. “Make love to me, Mikhail.”
“God.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “I’m so hard right now that I’m afraid I’m going to finish in my jeans.”
She rotated her hips against him and teased the beast.
He shuddered in her arms and after a deep inhale, he carried her into the bedroom, slamming the door behind them.